FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

2023

Taty Castellanos’ dream comes true as he nets four against Real Madrid to make LaLiga Santander history

THE Girona FC forward wrote his name into the history books, as no player had managed to put four past Los Blancos in more than seven decades. Girona FC striker Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos stole the limelight on Tuesday evening when he dismantled Real Madrid’s defence to lead his team to a big 4-2 victory in LaLiga Santander Matchday 31. Los Blancos did get off to a solid start, attacking Girona FC’s defence in waves in the opening stages, but Castellanos headed home just 12 minutes in after a great team move from Los Blanquivermells. It took the 24-year-old striker just…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Five things you may not know about Taty Castellanos

FOOTBALL

THE Girona FC striker scored all four goals in his team's 4-2 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday and here comes a description of his story so far and five things you might not know about him. Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos has had a good debut season in LaLiga Santander, but it reached a new peak on Tuesday night when he scored four goals against Real Madrid to lead Girona FC to a historic 4-2 victory. This was the first time since 1947 that a player had netted four against Real Madrid in a league match. He is the man of…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Everything you need to know about Atlético de Madrid vs FC Barcelona

FOOTBALL

LOS Rojiblancos and Los Azulgranas have been facing each other in LaLiga Santander for decades and here’s all you need to know about how this rivalry has developed through the ages. LaLiga Santander Matchday 30 preview Five reasons not to miss this weekend’s crunch clash Griezmann and 10 other LaLiga stars who left and then returned to their previous clubs The rise of Samuel Chukwueze continues The Xavi vs Simeone rivalry has moved to the dugouts Since LaLiga Santander began in 1929, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have faced each other a total of 170 times in league matches,…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco should win Africa Cup of Nations first before thinking about World Cup, says Boufal

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Morocco, who became the first Arab team to beat Brazil last month, should focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations next year before dreaming of glory at the 2026 World Cup, winger Sofiane Boufal said. Morocco was the surprise story at the World Cup in Qatar last year, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal on the way to the semi-finals prompting coach Walid Regragui to talk up his desire of winning the 2026 edition. That dream became bigger after a 2-1 win over five-times world champions Brazil in a friendly match in Tangier last month. Only European…

Apr

2023

By MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Former Ghana midfielder, Doreen Awuah, is bringing football to young girls

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL is often seen as a male sport, but for Doreen Angelina Awuah, it was worth running away from home for. "As a young girl, I received lashes from my father on several occasions when I returned home from playing football. My parents warned me not to play football because it was considered a sport for males and told me to concentrate on my education," said Awuah. However, she was determined to pursue her passion, which led her to run away from home and relocate to the Western Region of Ghana for three years. "I was not given the opportunity…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

More chaos at Egyptian champions Zamalek as club president excluded

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FIVE-TIME African champions Zamalek suffered another blow in a chaotic season as a local administrative court in Egypt ordered the removal of club president Mortada Mansour, days after the team appointed Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio. A local administrative court in Cairo ordered on Sunday to exclude Mansour from his post, as he has just served a one-month prison sentence over a defamation case against Al-Ahly president Mahmoud El Khatib. Mansour can appeal the ruling. Mansour told his YouTube channel, which has more than half a million followers, "I will not talk about the ruling now because judgment is the title…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Tuchel’s Bayern stumble again in home draw with Hoffenheim

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BAYERN Munich conceded a 71st-minute free kick to draw 1-1 at home against Hoffenheim at the end of a turbulent week for the champions but they stayed two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with six games remaining. It was Bayern's latest slip-up under coach Thomas Tuchel following last week's German Cup exit to Freiburg and Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss at Manchester City. The league draw had only limited impact after second-placed Borussia Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their 3-3 draw at VfB Stuttgart to remain two points behind…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Tottenham blow top-four chance in defeat by Bournemouth

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MARTYN HERMAN TOTTENHAM Hotspur blew a gilt-edged chance to rekindle their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four when relegation battlers Bournemouth snatched a last-gasp 3-2 away victory over them on Saturday. Substitute Dango Ouattara's superb finish in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a vital three points for Bournemouth whose fans celebrated wildly as their side took another step towards top-flight survival. For the hosts, their chances of playing in the Champions League next season look bleak after a 10th defeat of the season. Third-placed Newcastle United's lunchtime defeat at Aston Villa had opened the door…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Lampard says Chelsea need to learn to fight, and quickly

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WILLIAM SCHOMBERG CHELSEA interim coach Frank Lampard said he has to turn around the club's slump urgently before Tuesday's visit by Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final second leg, following the Blues' latest limp defeat. Lampard, speaking after a 2-1 home Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, said Chelsea - the 2021 European champions who are now stuck in 11th place in the Premier League - were displaying a worrying lack of desire and competitiveness. "At the minute, we are falling short on that and we need to turn it around quickly," said the former Chelsea midfielder…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

LaLiga hails ‘passionate’ and talented young KwaZulu-Natal footballers after first LaLga Camps in the Zulu Kingdom

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LALIGA has hailed the ”hunger to learn” and passion of young footballers in KwaZulu-Natal after the completion of the first LaLiga Camps in the province at Durban’s Hoy Park. LaLiga UEFA Pro-Licenced coaches Saúl Vázquez and Javier García conducted the LaLiga Camps, which were attended by 150 promising young under-10 to under-17 KwaZulu-Natal boys and girls footballers - and 30 local coaches - in Durban this week. The LaLiga Camps, which were previously also held in Johannesburg and Cape Town, are part of LaLiga’s flagship global Grassroots programme, which has seen more than 900 young players participate in LaLiga Camps…